Sunderland RCA FC - View from the cemeteryhttp://sunderlandrca.co.uk/taxonomy/term/1
enView from the Cemetery - September 2017 4http://sunderlandrca.co.uk/node/3534
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>So the double header against Shildon yielded no goals and no points. Disappointing, but not too surprising, given we are suffering a major injury crisis at present. It happens to everybody so no complaints, but it isn’t half frustrating. Having said that the general view was that over both games we did pretty well, except maybe in terms of taking the chances we had, and we did have a few in both games. It's funny how it works, but sometimes a bit of adversity can help in the long run. By all accounts nobody watching Luke Richardson hurling himself about with joyous abandon up front last Wednesday could have been less than impressed with this confirmed defender doing a turn as a striker. Apart from putting the ball in the net obviously. I jest, he did great. And on Saturday, among a lot of good performances, the cameo at left back from goalkeeper Jack Patton was a joy to watch, particular when he started telling his fellow defenders to get themselves out and sharpish! No, overall the spirit is great, but it looks like we might need some reinforcements, maybe including tonight. Will the boss have been on the case? Who knows.</p>
<p><!--break--></p><p>Meanwhile back in the television world of sport the legend that is Woy may well be regretting his return to the big time down at the Palace. A bit misjudged I reckon is Woy, in as much as not everyone is as convinced as me of his absolute uselessness. By a miracle of serendipity and bad luck I found myself at the England v Iceland match last summer. And in a damn good seat as well. How unlucky was that? A game any remotely competent manager would have won in a canter against a severely limited Iceland, and that even allowing for the chronically useless Sterling on the pitch. Not old Woy though, he cruised to defeat with an air of calm detachment. Iceland had the best throw in taker I’ve seen in a long time, and that was just about enough against England. But who would have thought that as a direct consequence Sunderland would get relegated? Long overdue I know, but even so talk about insult to injury. Looks like he may be planning to give Palace a bit of the same treatment this season, which is some consolation. Now that old ‘Arry is back among the ranks of the unemployed, Woy is the main representative of the old school of English manager, and he obviously plans to go down in flames. On you go Woy my son.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-1 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Story type: </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1">View from the cemetery</a></li></ul></div>Mon, 25 Sep 2017 21:49:24 +0000Ghostly Gadgie3534 at http://sunderlandrca.co.ukhttp://sunderlandrca.co.uk/node/3534#commentsView from the Cemetery - September 2017 - 3http://sunderlandrca.co.uk/node/3530
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>So the romance of the Cup is over, at least until November when the Vase kicks in for us, and it was down to earth with a bang at Shildon on Wednesday night; always a tough trip, made harder by our injury and other problems I understand, and lo and behold we play them again today. I know the fixture secretary’s job is hard, but this is frankly ridiculous and worse, makes the league look ridiculous, in your humble correspondent's opinion. There is a very long way to go with this season, surely this return fixture could have waited, even if it meant a blank Saturday for us? This kind of thing much strengthens the move to reduce the size of leagues to 20 or even 18. Never mind we must crack on. I hear Mr Larkin put in his normal cracking effort at centre back on Wednesday, while more surprising was the performance of Luke Richardson up front for more than 80 minutes. Very good stuff, and a sign that the attitude around the squad remains top class. Versatility, a great quality in a player.</p>
<p><!--break--></p><p>Anyway, how was the trip to Scarborough? Unwanted diversion to Robin Hood's Bay I hear, with it looking like a permanent stay at one point as the bus struggled to get back up the hill. The transport is often the joy of away trips. How old and knackered does a trip bus have to be before it gets retired? Very old. The giveaway is the number of random “personal” number plates sported by antique coaches. Still it got there in the end. And a super set up I hear, lovely new ground and great facilities. The blokes trying to avoid the stewards on the hill at the other side and watch for nowt was entertaining, supposedly. Well, it is in Yorkshire. My reporter tells me it was a very close thing and at half time he was confident we would win, even if it took a replay, how wrong can you be? Been a great little run of games though, and hopefully made the club a few sorely needed quid. Got to go back into the dim and distant past for our last venture this far, the last few years have been dire. The hoodoo is cracked now though, as long as it doesn’t return in the Vase.</p>
<p>In the wider world the rumbles get louder over at the SoL, though the manager largely escapes blame so far. Bound to be a long hard journey back, too many bad mistakes in the past, often involving sacking managers. Continuity is the thing, take it from me. And the crowds have disappeared, you would think a couple of dozen would have migrated over to Meadow Park. Maybe this week.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-1 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Story type: </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1">View from the cemetery</a></li></ul></div>Thu, 21 Sep 2017 16:17:26 +0000Ghostly Gadgie3530 at http://sunderlandrca.co.ukhttp://sunderlandrca.co.uk/node/3530#commentsView from the Cemetery - September 2017 2http://sunderlandrca.co.uk/node/3520
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>So does death count as a disability? More to the point will it count as a concession down at Scarborough next Saturday? I suppose not. I can't miss this one, even in my state, but have you seen the price of getting in? I can't be climbing over walls. Good job the club are putting on dead cheap transport to get there. If you see what I mean. Still we mustn't grumble, has football in Ryhope ever been in such good nick? Not for a long long time I guess. Both clubs going well in the League, the CW tonking Guisborough in the Vase the other day and our bold boys well on the way to Wembley in the big boys cup. Yes, this old cemetery is just about the centre of the football world right now. Can it last? It's only September after all. Enjoy it while it's there is my advice, you never know what's round the corner. He said optimistically.</p>
<p><!--break--></p><p>Anyway what about the wider football world? Many think Sunderland are already in a "relegation battle". They maybe being optimistic about the battle bit. I jest, it's early days of course.</p>
<p>And Mr Klopp thinks his lad Mane was unlucky on Saturday. Not, one is bound to say, as unlucky as the keeper he hoofed in the mouth, but let's not quibble. Still can't argue with 5 - 0 in my humble, and Citeh certainly look very strong. Much as they did this time last year, winning a boatload before folding up as it got colder. No, not Citeh for the title for me. The Reds of Salford methinks, Mourinho the pragmatic to beat Guardiola the artist I reckon, with the others trailing in his wake. Decisive and ugly 1-0 wins at White Hart Lane, Anfield and others to trump occasional 6-0 thrashings of the numerous Premier League whipping boys is my bet. And back Athletico in the Champions League.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-1 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Story type: </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1">View from the cemetery</a></li></ul></div>Mon, 11 Sep 2017 13:41:31 +0000Ghostly Gadgie3520 at http://sunderlandrca.co.ukhttp://sunderlandrca.co.uk/node/3520#commentsView from the Cemetery - September 2017http://sunderlandrca.co.uk/node/3501
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>I see we had a visit from the esteemed former league chairman Mike Amos the other day, popping in after his mission to find the famous listed pigeon cree of Ryhope. I understand he was successful, though why anyone would want to spend time in shooting range of pigeons beats me. No, I said 'shooting' madam. Still more stuff for his blog which remains a very good read, though the proofreading is clearly non existent. Hopefully he enjoyed the game more than the earlier game of ours he saw this season, the defeat down at Marske, which he generously described as niggly and nasty. Probably fair comment. Still two visits to RCA games before August is out, we must be doing something right to attract the glitterati of the Northern League world.</p>
<p><!--break--></p><p>I am writing this on transfer deadline day, or Harry Redknapp day as it is popularly known. Harry might struggle to top the news now he is scuffling about in Birmingham rather than in the top league, but he will still be on Sky at some point buying a Bolivian left back or some such. Have Sunderland or Newcastle done any good business? Will the fans be happy? Is Rafa staying? Three no’s to those questions methinks. A prolonged relegation battle on the cards I reckon at both clubs. Sunderland fair enough, the annual relegation tango continues, just in another league, but what is Ashley playing at? If he wants to sell the club you would think he would try and make it saleable. There is no doubt Benitez knows what he is doing so a little bit of support might bring big rewards you would think. But what do I know?</p>
<p>On a non football matter I see Princess Diana is back in the news on the anniversary of her death. Was there ever anything stranger than the national breakdown that followed her accident? I thought the world had gone mad. Millions on the street, clapping a funeral, which was a new one on me at the time, and throwing flowers like they were at the ballet. It seemed to set a new tone for what is acceptable in public emotion that we still have. The biggest example in football is the new habit of a minute's applause rather than a minute's silence to mark a notable death, as practiced in some quarters, though not I am pleased to say hereabouts. There have sadly been too many memorial silences of late here at Meadow Park, but I can’t remember any that weren’t impeccably observed, or at the SoL for that matter. I think quiet beats noise in these circumstances.</p>
<p>Anyway enough of this downbeat talk, what about the magic of the Cup today? Fantastic isn’t it? We have been spoilt in the past couple of seasons with good cup runs, but not in the big one, so let's enjoy it while we can. Something over 300 clubs already knocked out and on little RCA go. Tough game today mind, Liversedge going well and will be right at it. Should be quite an occasion. Enjoy!</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-1 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Story type: </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1">View from the cemetery</a></li></ul></div>Thu, 31 Aug 2017 20:01:05 +0000Ghostly Gadgie3501 at http://sunderlandrca.co.ukhttp://sunderlandrca.co.uk/node/3501#commentsView from the Cemetery - August 2017 6http://sunderlandrca.co.uk/node/3494
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>You will have heard me remark in earlier submissions that I trust the crowd won’t impede my view of the match. Not much chance of that at the moment. The long grass on the bank is another matter, mind. I know it's August and all that, and we have got a succession of home games but even so, the crowds are a bit disappointing aren’t they? Not in quality I hasten to add, indeed not, a finer selection of discerning football aficionados it is hard to imagine than the RCA faithful, much experience of the game, know a good player when they see one, fair and impartial commentators, and fond of a pint; no you can’t knock the quality, but the quantity? A fine young side developing, a super standard of football, and embarked on an FA Cup run that sees us a mere ten games from Wembley, assuming we make the semi final. What more could the good people of the City of Sunderland want? Quite a bit it seems. Well, a Ryhope Derby with both sides in fine fettle, followed a week later by the visit of Liversedge in the first qualifying round of the cup is a decent offer I reckon. Maybe the undecided will decide this week.</p>
<p><!--break--></p><p>In the wider world Wayne Rooney announced his retirement from international football, starting the latest round of debate on how good he is, or at least now in international terms, was. Very, very good at his best would be my view. I was fortunate enough, in my living years, to be in Portugal for the 2004 Euros, Rooney’s first big tournament. He was magnificent, man of the match at eighteen in the game against France while on the pitch with players of the quality of Scholes, England’s best midfield player of the last 20 years playing wide left, give me strength, Gerrard, Lampard, Beckham, Campbell, Cole, and for the French Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, Robert Pires, Viera and Makalele. Desailly could only get on the bench. But Rooney was head and shoulders the best player on show. Of course a week or so later he did his famous metatarsal and that was that. Maybe he was never so good again as in his teenage years, but he was still the best of his generation I reckon, and his 200th Premier League goal the other day is evidence enough. Not bad for a tubby little Scouser. Anyway back to local concerns.</p>
<p>I note with some interest that on Monday the boys can look forward to a Bank Holiday trip out to our near neighbours in Consett, and for a 1:00 pm kick off at that. Does seem more than a little bizarre that when the Northern League First Division is more concentrated on Tyne and Wear than maybe ever before, and certainly more on Sunderland and round about than ever, that the best the fixture computer can come up with for a close encounter on a holiday afternoon is in the wilds of North West Durham at the crack of dawn. Taken on top of the surfeit of home games to start the season it looks to me like we have upset the powers that be more than just a bit. No. I am sure it is just happenstance and unlucky. But even so, remember the wise words of Jack Nicholson, just because you are paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t all out to get you.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-1 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Story type: </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1">View from the cemetery</a></li></ul></div>Thu, 24 Aug 2017 11:49:26 +0000Ghostly Gadgie3494 at http://sunderlandrca.co.ukhttp://sunderlandrca.co.uk/node/3494#commentsView from the cemetery - August 2017 5http://sunderlandrca.co.uk/node/3491
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Pink balls? It’s not really cricket is it? The first attempt at a Day/Night test in England last week, and I suspect it may turn out to be a collector's item, wouldn’t be surprised it there was never another one. The weather and the light are all against it here. Wonderful in Dubai, or the Caribbean, but Birmingham or Manchester? I’m far from convinced. I am however convinced about the West Indies team. Atrocious. Poor old Andy Roberts was on the telly, a proud man, proud of the ferocious, intimidating and simply superb bowling of him and his colleagues back in the day, but looking sick and clearly ashamed and embarrassed by the efforts of the current squad. I don’t think England are that brilliant, indeed I strongly recommend a wager on the Aussies this winter down under, but the Windies were simply pathetic, and have another couple of tests to play before they can get into the old crash, bang, wallop malarkey where they may do better. It brought back memories of the great West Indies teams though, and the masochistic pleasure of watching the fast bowlers torment the latest chinless wonder from the public schools of England, while Geoff Boycott made sure he spent most of the time up the other end shaking his head. We had Sir Geoff and Ian Botham; they had Holding, Marshall, Ambrose, Lloyd, Richards, Greenidge and the rest. Wasn’t really a fair match was it? A bit like watching England v Germany over the years in football. Quality, planning and organisation versus shambolic selection and haphazard tactics. It is a little known fact that Gordon Greenidge was born in Hampshire and would have been delighted to play for England if it had occurred to the selectors to ask. What a surprise. Happy days.</p>
<p><!--break--></p><p>What about the boys here at Meadow Park? A little run in the FA Cup no less, aided by some friendly fixtures falling our way and home draws. Well, we deserve some luck in the FA’s big competition, we have certainly had very little over the years. And now another home draw against the lads of Liversedge from Cleckheaton in West Yorkshire. Garforth should give us a form line, they are in the same league, and no doubt the manager will have his spies out to watch them as well, but another good afternoon down on the Ryhope meadow in prospect, will the crowd go over the 100 mark? I sincerely hope so, as long as my view isn’t obstructed.</p>
<p>And in the league? Performances very good I think, results maybe not quite living up to that yet, but very early days. We seem to struggle in a few games to turn our obvious superiority into the goals we deserve. No doubt it will come. I wasn’t at the Marske game, but by all accounts, maybe a bit biased but not much, we should have won comfy, and instead manage to lose. Never mind, it ain’t always fair. I think some of our young lads are maturing into real good Northern League First Division players, so it will come right won’t it? Spirit seems good so things bode well, I hope.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-1 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Story type: </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1">View from the cemetery</a></li></ul></div>Mon, 21 Aug 2017 14:30:47 +0000Ghostly Gadgie3491 at http://sunderlandrca.co.ukhttp://sunderlandrca.co.uk/node/3491#commentsView from the Cemetery - August 2017 4http://sunderlandrca.co.uk/node/3485
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Matches, Croatia and Serbian football, SAFC surprise, athletics, Mo, sprinters.</p>
<p>Did you watch the Athletics World Championships over the past couple of weeks? Didn’t see much myself, but I did watch over the last weekend. Pity about Mo Farah not winning again, except that I sort of think that it is better for real champions to compete until they are beaten fair and square rather than retiring wondering if you might have won another one or two. Go out on your shield, as they say in the fight game. And the sprint relays were good. Noticing the way the ladies team, all fit girls obviously, went loopy as the boys, all fit lads obviously, won made me wonder what they would all be doing by way of celebration that night, probably a nice cup of tea and early to bed I reckon. Possibly.</p>
<p>I did spend some time wondering which country ANA stood for, until the commentator pointed out it was "Accredited Neutral Athlete" or Russian for short. Never mind, they all seemed as fast as ever, despite having no further access to pharmaceuticals, allegedly. Does make you wonder what the point is of banning the country, but allowing the athletes to take part anyway.</p>
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</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-1 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Story type: </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1">View from the cemetery</a></li></ul></div>Thu, 17 Aug 2017 21:56:10 +0000Ghostly Gadgie3485 at http://sunderlandrca.co.ukhttp://sunderlandrca.co.uk/node/3485#commentsView from the cemetery - August 2017 3http://sunderlandrca.co.uk/node/3472
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>I believe I left you in midweek contemplating the wonders of modern Germany as viewed on my latest trip overseas. Did I mention the beer? Think I did, I just like reminding myself. I will report on other points of interest around the continent in later editions. With any luck it will keep me going until Christmas. Anyway back to domestic concerns. All smiles here on the Ryhope meadow at present. A win in the Cup no less and a three points start in the league. Poor crowd the other night, but the atrocious weather probably accounted for a good few who might have turned out. Whatever, the football deserves a better audience, that is for sure. Not sure about giving everybody a goal start mind. Or hitting the woodwork every few minutes to keep it interesting. Three-nil up before half time and cruising is the sort of tension I prefer. Anyway this is nitpicking; looks like a very canny side in the making. Can we keep them all happy? I hope so. These boys might be capable of all kinds, but I can't helping thinking the vultures will be circling if we get on a run. Not to mention the dreaded reorganization looming at season's end, might be wise to just miss out on that! Can't predict these things though, all will be decided on the field, and then in the FA's secret conclaves; we are just pawns in the game.</p>
<p>Sunderland surprised a few last Friday by not folding like a house of cards when they went behind. Attitude was good, even if the quality was maybe not there. Not to get carried away, might still be wise to be cautious. Your correspondent's analysis is as follows: plenty good enough in midfield, not good enough everywhere else, but the manager looks a sensible pick, good luck to him I say. And the rash of Friday and Sunday games is good for us of course, bound to pick up a few down here needing a football fix.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-1 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Story type: </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1">View from the cemetery</a></li></ul></div>Thu, 10 Aug 2017 08:53:04 +0000Ghostly Gadgie3472 at http://sunderlandrca.co.ukhttp://sunderlandrca.co.uk/node/3472#commentsView from the Cemetery - August 2017 2http://sunderlandrca.co.uk/node/3464
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>I said in my first View of the season that I would fill you all in on my summer travels, a miracle in itself I know, what with me being deceased, but don’t worry, I don’t intend to post pictures of interesting foreign cemeteries. No, this has a football focus. So here we go.</p>
<p>Should you ever find yourself in the southern German city of Regensburg there are two things I recommend you should do. First, try the local beer, from the Thurn and Taxis brewery. Absolutely top class. I am not a lager drinker as a rule, but this stuff is even better than the usual German beer, which means it is very good indeed. Cheap, hoppy, flavoursome, not too gassy, and knocks your block off; what more could you want?</p>
<p><!--break--></p><p>But this of course, while vital information, is not strictly about football. I know that. So, secondly, take a walk along the banks of the River Danube, west of the city centre, and prepare to weep. Three or four beautiful football grounds, one after the other, a couple clearly the home of clubs of a decent non-league standard, though I sort of guess not quite Northern League One standard. Carpet like playing surfaces, excellent artificial training pitches, lovely clubhouses with beer gardens, and good food on offer to pull the punters in even in the close season. I certainly recommend an RCA pre or post season tour to somewhere in Deutschland. The boys would love it. It has long been a theory of mine that one of the things that keeps our hapless politicians, of both local and national variety in office, and prevents the enraged masses from rising up and consigning them to the dustbin of history, is the fact that comparatively few British people visit Germany. It's a stereotype I know, but yes, everything works properly. The contrast with the cheerful incompetence and 'computer says no' of life in Britain is stark indeed. Sports facilities is one of the areas where it is very obvious. Everywhere you go they are superb. Football, athletics, hockey (who knew the Germans played hockey?), tennis, you name it. Mind, Germanic efficiency gets right on your nerves after a bit. You end up feeling like an extra in Fawlty Towers, trying to stop yourself mentioning the war, and looking forward to getting home to litter, tattoos and badly spelt graffiti. Typical English, never happy.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-1 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Story type: </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1">View from the cemetery</a></li></ul></div>Tue, 08 Aug 2017 05:00:00 +0000Ghostly Gadgie3464 at http://sunderlandrca.co.ukhttp://sunderlandrca.co.uk/node/3464#commentsView from the Cemetery - August 2017http://sunderlandrca.co.uk/node/3461
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>Summer is officially over, and the football is back. And so am I. I will recall some of my summer wanderings in coming editions. Cricket will take a back seat now, although I am a fan; tennis, I’m not a fan, same for athletics and the like, overall let's get back to the real thing I say. It seems more than a bit ridiculous to me, but here we go with the FA Cup of all things, first Saturday in August and only thirteen games from Wembley. A cracking tie to start though, Garforth have had some great times not so long ago, so they will be keen. Best game on in the North East on the day I reckon, so maybe a few extra in. Will the pies last? And how do we look? A few new faces and not many missing from last season, so things are quite hopeful, or so the lad in charge says. We certainly have a very busy August with the Northern League not helping much with a rash of home games in the first few weeks of the season; think the fixture computer needs a reboot, or maybe just a boot.</p>
<p><!--break--></p><p>The talking point of the sporting summer of course has been the progress and success of various female England teams. The cricketers winning the World Cup and the footballers going well in the Euros; at the time of writing, don’t know how Thursday’s semi against the Dutch turned out mind. I am quite a fan of both women's cricket and football, certainly be good to see an RCA female team, I believe there are thoughts along those lines in the hierarchy as well. Which is not to say that everything is as wonderful as some commentators with an agenda like to pretend. But best not to criticise methinks, crack on ladies I say.</p>
<p>The friendly against SAFC Under 23s was a good night wasn’t it? Decent crowd and some good football played, with the SAFC boys looking very good in the first half, although we kept right at it and deserved the second half turn around that saw us win. A great result and good to see Sunderland giving a helping hand to local clubs, might we see some more loans of young lads this season?</p>
<p>So to our local concerns. How will the Northern League pan out do we think? Morpeth and Shildon favourites? Who wants promotion, given there might be more than one or two places available this year? Bishops obviously, but who else? North Shields trying to follow their mates across the river? What do we think in these parts? Tuesday night in Birkenhead anyone? Anyone? Looks like it might be more of a problem down at the bottom of the second division, with two or more being relegated to reduce numbers. Tough on clubs working hard to survive as high as possible. Who knows when it might be you.</p>
<p>On that happy note I'll finish, just keep my view through the fence clear please.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-1 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above clearfix"><h3 class="field-label">Story type: </h3><ul class="links"><li class="taxonomy-term-reference-0"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1">View from the cemetery</a></li></ul></div>Tue, 01 Aug 2017 11:42:16 +0000Ghostly Gadgie3461 at http://sunderlandrca.co.ukhttp://sunderlandrca.co.uk/node/3461#comments